Immigration: Hope v. Hate

Have you ever had a really intense nightmare? You know the kind of nightmare that seems unbelievably real, so real that once you finally wake up you thank your lucky stars that it was just your imagination and you’re relieved that the real world isn’t so bad after all. Well, I’m awake, but I am far from relieved because the toxic state of public discourse on the immigration debate is absolutely nightmarish.

The ongoing
anxiety
about the immigration debate is fueled by an intense apprehension about the changing face of our nation. Yes, we are a nation of immigrants. But for some, that nugget of historical truth is hard to digest. Among the first immigrants to the land that would become America were Europeans in search of economic opportunity and religious freedom. Perhaps the Thanksgiving season is the perfect time to think about immigration because the Pilgrims themselves were once new arrivals.

I am open to debate about the nature of immigration reform; indeed, an open free exchange of ideas is one of America’s most important privileges. However, those discussions that are marked by hateful, racist rhetoric do nothing but chip away at the principles of productive dialogue. Just last week, TN Rep. Curry Todd
made headlines during a Fiscal Review Committee Meeting. Representative Todd was upset that the state’s program that provides free health coverage to children under the age of 18 was not verifying the immigration status of pregnant women. He voiced his anger by stating, “They can go out there like rats and multiply, then, I guess.” When the Associated Press questioned him about his remarks, he said that ‘anchor babies’ might have been a more ‘palatable.’

The ugly side of the immigration debate hit close to home last week when Fox News cited Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones as one of America’s Top 10 ‘Toughest” Immigration Sheriffs. Despite the fact that the enforcement of immigration laws is squarely within the domain of the federal government, Sheriff Jones is proud of this distinction. Sheriff Jones told Fox that, “People are fed up with immigration and our government doesn’t seem willing to stop it,” so he wants to sue the country of Mexico.
Yes, he read that right. Sheriff Jones wants to sue Mexico in order to seek compensation for costs associated with the arrest and incarceration of Mexican citizens.

The words and actions of Todd and Jones are turning the conversation about immigration reform into an absurd spectacle. The struggle about immigration isn’t entirely about borders. The struggle is about who will be allowed to access the American dream of opportunity and success. History has allowed us to celebrate the legacy of Ellis Island. If we allow the language of hate to shape the immigration debate, will future generations remember us as a nation of fear-mongers or fair-minded individuals? The decision is ours.
Tomorrow is the National Day of Fasting and Prayer for Immigration Reform. Learn more about this day and the efforts of the faith community to unite in prayer for a common purpose, “to pray for an end to family separation due to deportations, to lament the broken system, and to ask God for guidance on the way forward.” There will be a local prayer service in Cincinnati, followed by a breaking of the fast with some great authentic Mexican food at Su Casa in Carthage , 7036 Fairpark Avenue , Cincinnati , 45216. Check out the attached Facebook page for more details and to RSVP: Cincinnati Fasting & Prayer Gathering. Let’s put our hope into action and work toward engaging in a respectful, productive discussion about immigration reform.